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WEDNESDAY
July 7, 1999
SECTION ONE vol 10, no. 130

To print out entire text of Today's issue, print this section as well as SECTION TWO

Because of his background and the fate of his parents, Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger has long been a champion of human rights worldwide while serving as Archbishop of Paris for 18 years

Today we feature our seventy-fourth red hat in alphabetical order. He is the 73 year-old prelate from Paris Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, who was born of Polish Jewish parents in Paris but preserved from the Holocaust when his folks were extradited and eventually executed at Auschwitz in 1943. He converted to Catholicism and became a priest always upholding the cause of human dignity. For more on this Jewish-born Prince of the Church who was elevated to the cardinalate in Pope John Paul II's Consistory of February 2, 1981, click on COLLEGE OF CARDINALS COLLECTION

74. Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger

Like recently canonized holocaust victim Saint Edith Stein, the Archbishop of Paris Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger is a bridge between the Jewish peoples and Christians for he was born of Jewish parents in Paris, France on September 17, 1926. His parents, of Polish descent, were killed in the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz in 1943 during World War II. But when they were deported from Paris early in 1940, young Jean-Marie was mercifully spared and taken in by a Catholic family in Orleans. That traumatic event changed his life forever. So taken was he by the faith of his new foster parents that he converted and was baptized into the Roman Catholic Church on August 25, 1940 at the age of 14. As a young college student after the war he became very active in Young Christian Students in Paris and it was during this time he realized a vocation to the priesthood. After studies at the Sorbonne where he obtained his degrees in the humanities and philosophy and the necessary major scholasticate studies, he was ordained a priest on April 17, 1954.

After some more studies and pastoral work he was appointed the Cure of St. Jeanne de Chantal in Paris where he dedicated his time night and day to guiding his parishioners with a special emphasis on the youth and the elderly, always striving to honor the human dignity of every person he came in contact with. He became legendary with church-goers everywhere in France for his dynamic preaching. It also attracted the attention of Pope John Paul II who appointed him the Bishop of Orleans on November 10, 1979. He was installed a month later on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Two years later the Holy Father elevated him to succeed Cardinal Marty as Archbishop of Paris on January 31, 1981. Two years later the Pope honored him by naming him in his February 2, 1983 Consistory, bestowing the red-hat on Cardinal Lustiger at the age of 57. He received the titular church of St. Louis of France. Shortly thereafter he was appointed Ordinary for all French Eastern-Rite faithful who did not have ordinaries of their own.

He has produced numerous important documents and significant homilies in France and globally and has come to be respected for his strong stance on human dignity, a refrain campaigned vigorously by another Pole - His Holiness John Paul II. The Holy Father has shown confidence in Cardinal Lustiger by appointing him to membership in various Curias including the Secretariat of State in the second section, the Congregation for Divine Worship and Sacraments, the Congregation for Bishops, the Congregation for Oriental Churches, the Congregation for the Clergy and the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life as well as the Pontifical Council for Culture. Though he, along with fellow French colleagues Cardinals Roger Etchegarry, Pierre Eyt and Paul Poupard are all above 65, they are not expected to be selected as serious candidates in the next papal conclave, but their influence could have a strong swing vote in the process.

Reviewing the first six hundred years of the Church as we set sail on the Barque of Peter from the time of Christ to Saint Gregory the Great

With the summer mode in vogue, we suspend this series until August, allowing the reader to catch up on past articles they may have missed in archives, including the Establishment of the Blessed Sacrament and the early struggles of the Church in this on-going abridged History of the Mass and Holy Mother Church over a 2000 year span called 2000 YEAR VOYAGE ON THE BARQUE OF PETER. For the first fifteen installments, click on BARQUE OF PETER

Taking time to taste Food for Thought appeteasers over the past year

With summer upon us we follow the summer schedule and bring you retro vignettes from the past year of humorous and moving Food for Thought Appeteasers that could bring a chuckle, a tear or both but definitely will make you stop and think. For past Appeteasers, click on Archives for FOOD FOR THOUGHT APPETEASERS

SIMPLY SHEEN:

Sometimes we think too much!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but the words of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen have been known to launch a thousand images in one's mind, one of the ways this late luminary did so much to evangelize the faith. Because of the urgency of the times and because few there are today who possess the wisdom, simplicity and insight than the late Archbishop who touched millions, we are bringing you daily gems from his writings. The good bishop makes it so simple that we have dubbed this daily series: "SIMPLY SHEEN".

"There are always sensitive souls who are much too ready to think evil of themselves and to distress themselves with their evil thinking. It is better not to appraise one's own spiritual life and progress, but to leave it to God and to band all attention to advancing in love of God and love or neighbor."

"I do solemnly tell you that there is no violence committed against any one of My children in My Name that is pleasing before My Throne. Those who use My Name to murder a murderer at any abortion clinic is satan's victim and not My servant! I alone Am Life. I alone give Life. I alone take Life!"

Those powerful, forceful words come from Our Lord on January 22, 1995 during the week a nation celebrated the Roe vs. Wade decision. Jesus' topic in Message #586 was the abominable sin of abortion in which He imparted to the Hidden Flower of the Immaculate Heart that any kind of murder is an abomination. He affirms that violence is not the answer, but rather prayer and penance, as Christ calls on all bishops and priests to return the Most Holy Eucharist to Its rightful prominence in our Church both in placement of the Tabernacle and total reverence and respect for the Blessed Sacrament, where He is present Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. Jesus asks all His consecrated ones to pray for Divine Mercy on a sinful world. His Blessed Mother prefaces her Divine Son's words in Message #585 four days earlier, calling her little ones to persevere in the fight for the Sanctity of Life and to surrender our own wills to the Divine Will so God can work through and with us in mitigating much of the chastisement ahead in the goal of ultimately ridding the world of evil through the Triumph of her Immaculate Heart. For Messages #585 and #586, click on "I SOLEMNLY TELL YOU..."

Messages 585 and 586

Message Five-Hundred-eighty-five, January 18, 1995

(Imparted to the Hidden Flower by the Immaculate Heart of Mary)

Say now to all the world: I am your Mother and I weep for all who suffer; they bear great pains in body, mind and soul but they do not come to God for help. Their pain grows worse because they seek release from their sufferings through human means.

O! When shall you hear my pleas? When shall you turn back to God and allow the sinful world to pass you by? There is no happiness except in God. He alone can heal; He is the Divine Physician, for He heals the soul before the body, knowing the soul is made for Eternal Life with Him.

How many warnings must my Divine Son give to the world before His children believe and live in a holy way? I, your Mother, do solemnly tell you that the earthquakes which ravage randomly shall soon begin a chain reaction that shall cause worldwide sufferings. I tell you this because the forces of evil are strong and daily they push forward their plans to bring the antichrist to reign.

It is only through constant prayer from the heart, united to my Divine Son's Passion, that many sufferings can be mitigated, the days of suffering shortened, and the Justice swift and merciful.

Do not fear, but do not cease, each of you, to be an apostle in these end times. My Immaculate Heart weeps for you, pleads for you, and loves you.

O! Surrender all to God Who must be your All, and you shall know the truth of my words.

I love and bless you! Thank you for responding to my Call!

Message Five-Hundred-eighty-six, January 22, 1995

(Imparted to the Hidden Flower by the Sacred Heart of Jesus)

On this day, I, Jesus Christ, Only-begotten Son of God, Second Person of the Blessed Trinity and Savior of the world, do solemnly tell the world:

Behold, the chalice of the suffering of the innocents is overflowing. Behold, the stench of the slaughter of the innocents is greater than in that moment in Bethlehem when Herod, My adversary slaughtered the Holy Innocents.

Behold, I, Jesus Christ, do solemnly say to all the world: THE EVIL SIN OF ABORTION MUST END NOW! This evil rocks the Heavens. All the hosts of Heaven weep, and My Own Most Sacred Heart sheds drops of Blood for this outrage!

When shall you hear Me, O world gone mad by satan's designs? When will you once again recognize My Sovereignty as King of Kings, Creator of all life!?! When, O world, shall you cease your abominations? When, O when shall you fall to your knees before My True Presence in the Blessed Sacrament and beg of Me to stop this horrific deed?

I do solemnly tell you that there is no violence committed against any one of My children in My Name that is pleasing before My Throne. Those who use My Name to murder a murderer at any abortion clinic is satan's victim and not My servant! I alone Am Life. I alone give Life. I alone take Life!
Therefore, hear Me, O world, especially all bishops and priests:

The sin of abortion will not stop until all reverence is returned to Me in The Most Blessed Sacrament. I want My churches open at every hour! I want My Tabernacle to be returned to Its rightful place where My children might come to Me. I want to be placed in the Monstrance, and I want Adoration of My True Presence to be a full part of every church.

I want every bishop to announce this in his Diocese and to hear no dispute from any priest or lay committee. I want all bishops and priests to faithfully lead My children in Adoration of The Blessed Sacrament, and I want My True Presence in The Most Blessed Sacrament to be taken in solemn procession to every abortion clinic. There I ask My children, priests, religious and lay, to kneel in prayer and to humbly recite the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy, so that through Divine Mercy abortion ends.

I do solemnly tell My people: Let My Order of Divine Mercy begin and let its Rule be lived fully. It is through the on-going work I gave to My saint Faustina that I, Jesus Christ, desire for My Divine Mercy to be poured out upon your sinful world. It is My Plan that through this new Institute the world shall come to drink from the Cup of My Most Precious Blood, that My Mercy may be visibly seen and you shall be healed in soul, body and mind.

Hear Me, for soon the world shall be given a great sign of My Presence among you. Let all who have ears hear!

No longer shall abortion be tolerated. No more shall I allow man to commit even more evil in My Name, which is Most Holy.

ENOUGH!

Return to Me, for already My angels stand at the ready to bring the full weight of Justice to the world.

Hear My Words and those of My Holy Mother, and live these Words. I Come! Prepare!

DAILY LITURGY

Today is the Fourteenth Wednesday in Ordinary Time with tomorrow being the Fourteenth Thursday in Ordinary Time. For the readings, liturgies and meditations for these two days, click on DAILY LITURGY.

Thursday, July 8, 1999

Green vestments

PRAYER & DEVOTION

July is the month of the MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS and so, on Ordinary days this month we bring you the Prayer of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ:

Almighty, everlasting God, Who didst appoint Thine
only-begotten Son Redeemer of the world, and didst deign
to be appeased by the shedding of His Blood; grant, we
beseech Thee, that by our solemn service we may so honor
what He paid as the price our Redemption, and by Its virtue
be so defended here on earth from the evils of this present
life, that we may forevermore enjoy Its fruit in Heaven.
Throught the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, world without end. Amen.

Events Today in Church History

On this date in 1304, Blessed Pope Benedict XI, the 194th successor of Peter, was poisoned by a dissident group of Italians led by Nogaret whom the Pope denounced for their sacriligeous crimes in Anagni. Prior to this, the Holy Father had settled a dispute that arose between his predecessor Pope Boniface VIII and the equally stubborn King Philip IV of France. For other pertinent events throughout the centuries that are memorable in Church history today, click on MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES

Historical Events in Church Annals for July 7:

664 A.D.

Death of Saint Ethelburga,nun and abbess who was also known as Saint Aubierge. She was the daughter of Anna, king of the East Angles. She died in Faremoutier, France.

739 A.D.

Death of Saint Willibald, son of the West Saxon king Richard and Saint Boniface's cousin. Willibald was the first Englishman to make a pilgrimage to Rome in 721 as well as Jerusalem in 724 and Constantinople in 730. Though captured by Saracens, he was eventually released and spent ten years at Monte Cassino in Italy. Then Pope Saint Gregory III dispatched him to Germany where Boniface ordained him and where he ruled as bishop for forty five years before his death at Eichstatt.

1304 A.D.

Death of Blessed Pope Benedict XI, 194th successor of Peter. Benedict was poisoned by eating a tainted fig placed in his dish by conspirators. He was born in Treviso and elected on October 27, 1303. During his one year pontificate he settled a difficult dispute with the king of France Philip IV, also known as Philip the Fair who wasn't exactly fair in his legendary disputes with Benedict's predecessor Pope Boniface VIII who considered the king a mortal enemy. Because he was a just and compassionate man, Benedict raised the ire of the unjust and those who felt they could do whatever they wanted to. This made him a a target of those he excommunicated, including Nagoret and his Italian accomplices who had done unspeakable acts in raiding Anagni. Because of the Pope's proper actions, he was bitterly persecuted by this group of sacriligeous dissidents and murdered.

1456 A.D.

The French ecclesiastical court at Poitiers clear Saint Joan of Arc of all suspicion of heresy, allowing her to lead a crusade to retrieve the besieged city of Orleans.

June 25th Medjugorje Monthly Message

Dear children! Today I thank you for living and witnessing my messages with your life. Little children, be strong and pray so that prayer may give you strength and joy. Only in this way will each of you be mine and I will lead you on the way of salvation. Little children, pray and with your life witness my presence here. May each day be a joyful witness for you of God's love. Thank you for having responded to my call. For more on Medjugorje, click on MEDJUGORJE AND MORE

The DAILY WORD

"These twelve Jesus sent forth, having instructed them thus: 'Do not go in the direction of the Gentiles, nor enter the towns of Samaritans; but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.'"